In a letter to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), the trade body on Sunday expressed its interest in this regard.

"BGMEA believes that it will be wise to take decision regarding stopping UD after consultation with the factories again in January," the letter reads.

The factory owners at a meeting on September 27 sought more time to complete the remediation, it added. "Those factories need some time to finish the existing work orders …,"according to the letter.

The BGMEA's response came against the backdrop of the DIFE's recent letters to the apparel sector trade bodies-BGMEA and BKMEA-to inform the authority about the measures taken in this regard.

Earlier in September, the DIFE had requested both the BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) to stop providing UD to more than 200 factories over their poor post inspection remediation progress.

Out of those units, some 131 are registered with the BGMEA and 84 with the BKMEA. Some 11 are members of both the trade bodies, according to DIFE officials.

The sector leaders said it is not possible to close down any factory immediately after getting letters as the livelihood of many workers depends on the factories and they have their existing work orders.

When contacted, Inspector General of DIFE Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan said they would raise the issue in the next meeting of the national tripartite committee to be held this month.

"The committee will decide the next course of action," he told the FE.